Let’s have a check-in about body checking. Even if you don’t know this behavior by name, you’ve probably seen it modeled by influencers.
In a looks-obsessed space like social media — and a cultural moment like the present, in which discourse surrounding weight loss drugs is unavoidable and #SkinnyTok content is so ubiquitous that TikTok banned the hashtag — repeatedly scrutinizing your appearance and documenting it online isn’t a big stretch. In fact, on the fitness side of TikTok, explicit “body checks” are super common, even normalized.
But just because a behavior is common doesn’t mean it’s safe or healthy. Left unchecked, body checking can take a serious toll on your mental and even physical health. It’s usually a result of negative thoughts about your body. Often, it’s connected to eating disorders or body dysmorphia.
Here’s everything you need to know about this dangerous behavior, including what it is, how to spot it and what to do if you keep seeing it online or can’t stop doing it IRL.
Illustration: HuffPost; Photos: Getty
Seeking constant feedback on how your body looks can be a symptom of a larger issue.
What is body checking?
Body checking is a repetitive, compulsive behavior “used to gather feedback about one’s body shape, weight, or size,” Keesha Amezcua, LMFT, CEDS-C, clinical director at the eating disorder treatment facility Alsana, tells HuffPost. It can look like many different things. However, it’s usually centered around a body part or aspect of your physical appearance that’s a source of insecurity.
Common examples include obsessively looking at yourself in the mirror and scrutinizing your body, using your clothes or accessories to “measure” parts of your body, or repeatedly capturing full-body videos or photos of yourself to check how you look in real-time. (Fitness influencers who constantly post body check videos under the guise of recording their progress, we’re looking at you.)
To be clear: Periodically catching a glimpse of your reflection isn’t body checking. Taking a selfie to see how your outfit looks before you leave the house isn’t body checking, either. Neither example is inherently repetitive, obsessive, or tinged by negative self-image — three key characteristics that differentiate body checking from simply looking at yourself or feeling self-conscious.
According to Alyson Curtis, MA, LMHC, a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and body image, body checking becomes a genuine concern when it affects a person’s ability to be present in their everyday life. So, if you went out to dinner with your friends, but your evening was ruined because you couldn’t stop adjusting your dress or hyper-fixating on how your arms looked? “That’s a problem,” Curtis tells HuffPost.
In some cases, body checking can be a sign of disordered eating or body dysmorphia.
Anecdotally, body checking is frequently (but not always) linked to eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Academic researchers have also established a connection between this behavior and feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s body, as well as disordered eating patterns consistent with eating disorder pathology.
People who struggle with eating disorders or BDD typically have a highly negative, deeply skewed perception of what their body looks like. Consciously or not, body checking gives them a sense of control. It’s a way to perpetually monitor their appearance and look out for any real or perceived fluctuations. However, since it stems from fears and insecurities, “body checking only serves to intensify these negative feelings,” Amezcua said.
In some cases, body checking can worsen an existing case of BDD or even lead to an eating disorder that wasn’t present from the jump.
“It’s a really slippery slope,” Curtis said, “and some of us are more vulnerable than others.” For context, eating disorders will impact an estimated 9% of all Americans at some point in their life. They can be deadly, so it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional if you think you’re dealing with one.
Curtis works with many clients who bring up body checking in sessions. Treatment modalities for this behavior run the gamut and depend on severity as well as an individual’s level of anxiety or distress. For example, if a client can’t stop body checking because they don’t like how their clothes look, Curtis might first recommend shopping for new clothes that fit in a way they find comfortable or flattering. In general, though, “the earlier the invention, the better,” she said.
“Body checking alone can be very distressing, but compulsive body checking is most likely connected to other disordered behaviors,” Amezcua adds. “No one needs to suffer alone.”
What to do if you see body checking in your Instagram feed (or do it yourself).
“Social media is definitely an agitator for those who already struggle with body image issues,” Curtis said. It’s no surprise that body checks are so common on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Since it seems relatively innocuous — at least compared to more overt examples of dangerous, disordered thinking, such as pro-ana content — this behavior may not raise concern immediately. That’s why it’s helpful to be aware of what it looks like.
As for what you should do if you notice that an influencer you follow is body checking? Consider muting or unfollowing them. At the very least, take it as a sign to think more critically about who you follow and the kind of content you consume online.
“There is so much toxic information and imagery out there,” Amezcua adds, “and we all know that mindless scrolling can lead to increased anxiety and decreased self-worth… If someone is dealing with body image issues or food struggles, it can be helpful to examine their relationship with social media and get curious about how their screen time impacts their overall well-being.”
Curtis echoes the sentiment. The unfortunate truth is that conventional beauty standards (and the widespread pressure to abide by them) aren’t going anywhere.
“Recurrent body checking can be one of the first indicators that the pressure to conform is getting its hooks in you,” Curtis said. “Bring curiosity and care to it and when in doubt, seek out a therapist for further support.”
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To that end, if you catch yourself body checking and it’s becoming repetitive or compulsive, then it’s time to get help from a mental health professional. Consider working with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders or body image. Many online directories allow you to filter by specialty when you’re searching for a provider.
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for support.
